GIDEON: EMPOWERED FORCONQUEST IN TROUBLOUS TIMES

Judges 6:1-8:5

Gideon lived at a difficult moment in Israel’s history. He experienced the pain and trauma of troublous times. Lesser men would have caved in under the burden of the times but Gideon had a resilient life and a daring resolve to brave the storms and triumph against all odds.

In time, God empowered him for conquest. He subdued the enemy, won a victory for the nation and his name became entrenched in the nation’s hall of fame. He became one of the celebrated heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:32).

ASPIRING TO GREATNESS

Judges 6:1-14; Numbers 13:28-33; 14:1-10,28-32; Joshua 14:6-15; Psalm 27:13,14; 85:6,7; 44:1-26; 1 Timothy 3:1

The enemy had reduced Israel to less than humans. People were forced to live in caves and holes like animals. The constant enemy invasion and incursions had impoverished the people and destroyed their crops. Israel’s painful pangs and sonorous sighs reached the ears of the Almighty God (Judges 6:1-8).

God attributed Israel’s suffering as self-inflicted. They chose the way of rebellion and now were reaping the harvest of disobedience. They forsook God and now had the enemy as their master (Judges 6:8-10).

However, in all of this, the Lord singled out Gideon. He had not given up on life but he wasn’t too excited about it either. He did not surrender to the enemy yet he could not face them outright. Although threshing wheat at the wine press for fear of the enemy, yet this was his way of fooling and outsmarting the enemy.

The Lord called him a mighty man of valour. Gideon responded that God has forsaken His people. He yearned for a repeat of the miraculous history of God’s people. Where were the miracles? He was aspiring to greatness and God told him to go in that might. Are we desiring to experience power and revival as of old? (Psalm 85:6,7; 44:1-26).

Only those who aspire to greatness, who desire to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living end up being empowered for conquest. The doubters always perish in the wilderness but people like Caleb and Joshua always get empowered to win the day (Numbers 13:28-33; 14:1-10,28-32; Joshua 14:6-15; Psalm 27:13,14). Desiring the office of a bishop is a good thing and a noble ambition (1 Timothy 3:1).

ARISING FROM GODLESSNESS

Judges 6:15-32; Matthew 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21; Romans 6:1,2; Mark 10:46-52; 2 Kings 2:12-14; Acts 3:19; Genesis 33:18-20; 35:1-10; Ephesians 5:14.

Following a series of lame excuses, Gideon agreed to lead the battle. However, God impressed upon Gideon’s mind the divine order: worship before warfare (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-27; 1 Samuel 10:8; 13:8-17; 2 Chronicles 20:20-25). God’s grace cannot abound in sin (Romans 6:1,2). Gideon’s achievement is going to be through grace. However if this grace is going to abound, sin must fly off the window.

Gideon must remove idolatry from his father’s house. If Baal is god in that house, then God cannot be God there. Gideon’s household cannot serve two masters (Judges 6:25-27; Matthew 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21).

Gideon out of deference for his father probably and fear of the people destroyed Baal’s shrine under the cover of darkness (Judges 6:27-32).

Like blind Bartimaeus, we must throw away our wretched garment of sin to go to Jesus (Mark 10:46-52). Like Elisha, we must first tear up our garment of weakness and self-centeredness before we can put on Elijah’s mantle of power (2 Kings 2:12-14).

The path of divine help is the path of repentance from sin (Isaiah 59:1,2; 55:6-8; Proverbs 28:13). When we forsake sin, times of refreshing will surely come from the presence of the Lord (Acts3:19).

To abandon our compromise in Shechem and to journey to Bethel to do the will of God is the path of protection, preservation and blessing (Genesis 33:18-20; 35:1-10).

ANOINTED BY GOD

Judges 6:34,35; 13:25; 14:5,6,19; 15:14-16; Zechariah 4:6,10; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 3:5,6; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21; Acts 10:38; 1 Samuel 16:13-23; 17:1-52; 2 Kings 2:18-22; 4:1-48.

Although there are battles to be fought yet it is not by our power or by our might but by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6,10; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 3:5,6; Isaiah 61:1-3; Acts 10:38).

Once Gideon met the divine conditions, the Spirit of God came upon him to empower him for conquest (Judges 6:34).

The anointing surely makes a difference.

  • It empowered Christ for a fruitful ministry (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21).
  • It empowered Samson for supernatural exploits (Judges13:25; 14:5,6,19; 15:14-16).
  • It empowered David for slaying giants and expelling demons (1 Samuel 16:13-23; 17:1-52).
  • It empowered Elisha to deliver people from something and to deliver something to people (2 Kings 2:18-22; 4:1-48).

Just as the anointing through the empowering Spirit turned Saul the first king of Israel into another man, the formerly timid Gideon became bold and courageous. He sounded the battle cry and prepared for a showdown with the enemy (1 Samuel 10:1-15; Judges 6:35).

Bondage-breaking and boundary-scaling anointing is available for contemporary winners. By our God, we will run through a troop as well as scale over every wall of containment and barriers to blessings (Isaiah 10:27; Psalm 18:29).

ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH GRACE

Judges 7:1-25; 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Corinthians 15:10,11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 4:13; 1 Peter 4:10.

Gideon had many volunteers but the battle was to be for God’s glory and honour. An initial army of 32,000 was whittled down to 300. The battle was won, not on the strength of the army but in the strength of the Almighty. The enemies were conquered not by shooting guns but by breaking pitchers. Although there were activities they were required to perform yet the victory was by grace. The achievement was through the grace of God. Even when faint, God’s grace sustained them to keep on pursuing the enemy (Judges 8:1-5).

God is able to make ALL grace abound toward us (2 Corinthians 9:8). God’s grace is the basis of our achievement and progress, the foundation of our freedom and fruitfulness, the backbone of our victory and dominion.

Paul was what he was – a tireless worker, a victorious warrior, an effective pastor, a triumphant apostle – by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10,11). We can be victors and winners as well through God’s grace.